This bottle of Crankalicious
Pineapple express concentrate arrived while I was on a photoshoot with Marie https://www.facebook.com/mariemeggidoartist/. Bike
washes are one of those products that polarise opinion and I personally prefer concentrate
versions. Why? Well; they allow me to brew custom strengths and work out
considerably cheaper, too.
Gentle for bike washing duties,
neat for stripping lubes and greases with minimal effort. Again, there are
several approaches to this. Chain baths are nice, in that they keep mess
minimal and allow solvents/cleaners to be reclaimed, if appropriate.
My approach, is closer to that
of old school team mechanics. I pour about 100ml of solution, into an old, cut
down trade bottle and apply this directly to the chain, rings, cassette etc via
“pound shop” paint brushes.
Drivetrain stripping tends to be
the precursor to bike washing, removing the grotty stuff-so there’s no issues
with cross contamination later. In the zone, a good, basic clean shouldn’t take
more than 20minutes.
Maintenance should not be
regarded a chore, rather part of riding. Some describe it as bonding, others in
more rational terms. A means of inspecting everything, minimising the
likelihood of problems occurring during a ride, let alone, racing.
Little and often saves a lot
of time in the long run. If you’re someone who leaves servicing to your
friendly local bike shop, they will appreciate working on a clean bike. This
makes their job easier, which saves you time and ultimately money, in the
longer term.
There’s been plenty of scope
for testing washes these past few weeks. For these reasons, I’ve been extending
maintenance periods to see how they tackle impacted grime, whether organic, or
petrochemical. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sks-wash-your-bike
Similarly, when testing tyres (which
we regularly do at SDC www.Sevendaycyclist.com and
other titles, I freelance for). During these phases, I deliberately resist the
urge to brush casings of glass, grit and similar objects to test puncture
resistance.
Road tyres, at least those for
general riding have become portlier.
Time was when we’d commute, or
winter train on 700x25/28c. Now, thanks in part to the evolution of ‘cross and
gravel type builds with generous clearances, 32mm upwards is increasingly the
norm. I used to tour on 32mm and these days, prefer something around the 35mm
mark for general riding.
All things being equal, they’re
reasonably swift, ride quality is more compliant, taking the sting from washboard
surfaces. Ultimately, less rider fatigue, especially at the end of a long ride.
Working bikes, however they
earn their keep, need to be dependable. Unable to finish a race/big ride; or
turning up late to work because of a mechanical is deeply undesirable.
Hence, reliability
trumps weight saving in these instances. Season specific equipment, such as light
aside, I enjoy night testing. I find the darkness useful, adding another
perspective when evaluating performance.
Decent technical clothing enables
me to forget about the weather and enjoy the ride, is that tyre
superior/inferior to a competitor. Is this so, or is perhaps, visual prejudice
skewing my perception?
Plunge yourself into darkness
and see… https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine/videos/1868668746497381/
Ever noticed how climbs become less taxing
in the dark? Night will open a
completely different riding experience, go-on, embrace it.
My slightly tyrannical, though
much loved feline, can also object profoundly to some equipment…
He’s very taken with my waxed
cotton messenger bags, commandeering them as his bed. However, he can launch savage
assaults on test tyres and I’ve often discovered a phantom flat.
Often there’s a very rational
explanation- I’d pinched a tube/rim tape moved when mounting, or indeed, a
sharp lodged in the casing, following a very wet ride.
However, our furry friends can
be very sensitive to very subtle changes and different odours. The latter may
explain his recent hostilities towards these very likeable Panaracer T Serv PT,
yet not the Vee Tire Co Zilent 700x42c.
Talking of punctures, the Soma
Shikoro have finally succumbed to a sharp, which I only discovered while
washing the bike down. This presented the ideal opportunity to swap over to the
Vee Tire Co Baldy. Another 32mm section, and an interesting comparator for the
Panaracer.
Another plus, it compelled me
to root through the spare tube mountain, identifying those which can re-join
the wedge pack and those for recycling.
